Frank g



(No Model.)

P. G. JOHNSON.

SEWER GAS OUT-OFF FOR BASINS.

No. 321,974. Patented July 14, 1885.

INVENTOR Nv PETERS, PhoOo-Lilhognphnr. Washingion. D. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK G. JOHNSON, OF NE? YORK, N. Y.

SEWER-GAS CUT-Ol F FOR BASINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 321,974, dated July 14,1885.

Application filed August 8, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK G. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a newand useful Sewer-Gas Gut-0ff for Stationary Wash-Basins, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The use of public water necessitates openings in the upper part of thewall of such basins to allow the escape of the water in the event it isleft running from the supply-faucet when the plug in the bottom of thebasin is inserted. These escapeopenings admit the flow of sewer-gas fromthe sewer system into the apartments of dwellings where basins areemployed.

The object of my invention is to provide a sewer-gas cut-off for theseescape-openings, which can be readily applied and removed.

A further object of my invention is to ac-v complish this result in sucha manner as not to be obliged to remove the cut-off in order to be ableto use the basin.

The following is a full, clear, and exact description of my invention,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is ahorizontal view; Fig. 2, a transverse vertical view, seen through theline x m of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 an interior View of the rubber cap of thecut-off.

Similarletters refer to similar parts in all the illustrations.

The-construction and operation of my invention are described as follows:A is the basin proper. B B is the slab'surmounting the basin. 0 is anoval rubber cap, concave on one side and convex on the other, forcovering the waste-openings a. D is a pcculiarly-bent springrod, which Iterm the shank ofthecut-ofi, having the cap attached to one end. d d areshort right-angle bends in the shank D. bis a projection on the insideof the cap to act against the wall of the basin to limit the action ofthe shank and so prevent the cap from being too much bent or sprung. wis a washer between the cap and a shoulder on the shank. e is the gutterof the basin, extending from the waste-openings a to the drain-pipe I. cis the plug in the bottom of the basin.

The shank D is bent in the form of a semicircle, having a radius aboutthe same as the radius of the basin. The object of this peculiar shapeof the shank D is threefold, namely: First, to provide a spring-actionbetween its two extremes, resulting in extension and contraction of itstwo extremities, for the purpose of adapting it to basins of differentdiameter and to provide pressure against the cap 0 to hold it (the cap)in place and insure a gastight fit between it and the 'wall of thebasin; second, to simplify the device and reduce its construction to thegreatest possible simplicity and least expense; and, third, not toobstruct or interfere with the usual employment of the basin by theapplication of the cut-off,'which obviates altogether the necessity ofremoving the device in order to use the basin, which greatly increasesits value and convenience of use. The two ends (I d of the shank D arebent at right angles with its semicircular portion, in such a mannerthat they stand in a right line with each other and the horizontaldiameter of the basin, for the purpose of forming a stem at one end forattaching the rubber cap 0 and a stem at the other end to rest againstthe wall of the basin to obtain the counter action for pressing the cap0 against the opposite side of the basin.

The cap 0 is oval, and concave on one side and convex on the other, andthick enough to sustain a pressure sufficient to insure a gastight fiton the wall of the basin when it is pressed by the action of thespring-shank D,

and yet not so stiff as not to yield to the form of the basin or resistindentation of its form; and to prevent it from being too far deflectedby the action of the spring-shank and crowded against the escape-openinga and the wall of the basin, I provide upon its inner or concave centera solid projection, b, about half the depth of the concavity of the capitself, the object of this projection I) being to take the pressure ofthe spring-shank D after the cap has yielded to and formed a gas-tightfit on the wall of the basin.

My invention is attached to and detached from the basin as follows:Grasp the springshank D at the end opposite to the cap 0 and place thecap over the waste-opening a, then crowd the grasped end of the shanktoward the cap against the wall of the basin until the end in the handwill pass by the projection of the slab B B into the basin. On removingthe hand the end of the shank opposite to the cap ICO I do not claim,broadly, the use of a cap held in place by a spring for shutting offsewer-gas in basins irrespective of any peculiar construc- I 5 tion ofsuch device; but

Vhat I do claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is-

Asewer-gas cut-off for wash-basins consisting of the combination of thecap 0 and the 20 shank D, having two right-angle and one semicircularbends,substantiall y in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

FRANK G. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

J NO. J. HALMAR, \VM. D. JUDSON.

